How to Engineer an LCD Enclosure

An LCD enclosure is a protective cabinet used to encase LCD or plasma TV systems to allow their use in outdoor or hazardous locations. LCD enclosures are designed to ensure the environment inside the enclosure is the perfect operating conditions for an LCD or plasma screen to operate in.

But LCD enclosures are more than just protective metal boxes that keep the rain out, there is far more to ensuring an LCD TV can operate in outdoor conditions or hostile environments than just waterproofing the LCD to protect from the rain.

Outdoor locations contain far more hazards than just rain water, and while ensuring the LCD or plasma is protected from rainfall is extremely important there are other weather conditions that can disable a TV system just as easily. Furthermore, LCDs need a flow of fresh air to ensure the device doesn’t overheat and this can be problematic if the device also has to be waterproof.

The solution is to protect against rainfall (water falling down) whilst allowing air into the enclosure from underneath. Specially designed chambers, know as plenum chambers, allow this which ensure the LCD is kept dry whilst allowing airflow.

Temperature extremes are another hazard that have to be designed into the LCD enclosure. Whilst the airflow system mentioned above will keep the device cool in normal operating temperatures, but outdoor digital signage or exterior TV systems may also have to face extreme hot weather in the summer and glare from direct sunlight.

For this reason, some LCD enclosures utilize air conditioning systems if they are to operate in hot climates and the screen is protected against direct sunlight by allowing additional airflow over it to prevent hotspots. Anti-glare screens are also used to prevent any glare from preventing the screen from being visible.

Heating systems are also used in areas where the temperature drops below freezing. Whilst most electrical devices can operate perfectly well in colder temperatures there is a risk of humidity or condensation freezing inside the enclosure and causing damage.

LCD enclosures need also to be durable. Many are manufactured from sold steel which makes the devices quite heavy but offers protection against heavy impact and attempts and vandalism and theft.